My “10 Ways To Local”

1. Changed my business focus to one where I now strive to get local business owners and non-profits maximum visibility in the community, save them money and help them get more profitable.
2. Became a Gresham Chamber of Commerce member.
3. Became a member of a Gresham ITakeTheLead professionals networking group.
4. Joined the TryLocalFirst meetings.
5. Changed my dentist from one on 72nd & Division to Sue Monnes, Gresham Chamber member.
6. Changed my health products from Whole Foods near 40th & Sandy to Lillian’s in Gresham.
7. Changed my auto, home and life insurance from a Farmer’s agent in Milwaukie to Lori Stegmann and John Sage, Gresham Chamber members.
8. Though my change was from one local to another local…it was from a non-Chamber member to a Chamber member: Brian at Cartridge World on Eastman Pkwy.
9. Changed my church attendance and offerings from a Mall 205 area church to Easthill.
10. And, I refer others to local businesses rather than out-of-Gresham businesses or online ones.

I do so love our Gresham. Makes you feel good to be a part of such a great community. We have so much here. I encourage others to really think about where they are spending their money, and consider if it is helping their community or one elsewhere. Let’s all do what we can to spend here, not there. And, think of your own “10 Ways To Local”. You’ll be glad you did, and so will others you affect by your decision.

No guilt-trip intended, but even though it’s convenient at times…when you are out of Gresham and around other areas of the Portland-Vancouver metro area…to buy gas, groceries, coffee, cards and other things…buy local because it’s the right thing to do to support our local economy. Our decisions and habits do make a difference!

To a more prosperous year and years to come,
Steve Copeland
Copeland Business Services
Gresham, OR

The June 16th Third Thursday will feature a beer tasting in the courtyard of the newly opened “The Hoppy Brewer”, accompanied by acoustical Jazz/R&B trio “Matt Kirk & Friends”. “The Hoppy Brewer” is located at 328 N. Main Avenue in historic downtown Gresham.

The Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association is seeking artisans for Third Thursdays. For further information, visit the Historic Downtown Gresham website or call (503) 665-5990.

CONTACT: Kerry Ann O’Halloran
(503) 661-8000 ext. 101

Giving Back

The first thing Kim did with her winning check of $1,000 was to make a donation that will provide 600 pounds of food for local families. That is just one of the great things that happen when you Try Local First local charities are supported in the most part by local businesses so when you buy local chances are you are helping to support local non-profits and charities.

Kim knows about that on the other side also as her husband, Michael is an owner of a small business in downtown Gresham and his business Sole Position Internet Marketing is always one to step-up and help local causes! Congratulations! Kim we know you are having a great time this Holiday Season shopping in East County.

We care a great deal about our local economy and want it to prosper in good times and bad.

That is why we are giving away an East County Stimulus. It’s our very own stimulus package for East Multnomah County.

Entering is Easy

Simply visit Enter to Win page and either fill our our online entry form or download our paper entry form, and you’ll be entered. You can enter once a day.

It’s that easy!

Spread the Word

Help spread the word about our contest by sharing this post with your family and friends, so they too can learn more about TryLocalFirst.org.

The contest runs from June 15th – July 25th.

The program will be promoted to our previous thousands of contestants who entered to win our two “$1,000 Shopping Sprees” (one in the Fall of 2008 and one in 2009) and last summer’s “Discover East County Packages”.

It will also be promoted locally by all Coalition Members of Try Local First with information regarding the contest being promoted in local newspaper and on the Try Local First contest page as well as the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce website and other Coalition members websites.

The promotion will begin in mid June and entries will be accepted for 30 days. Winners will be selected based on the previously selected guidelines and presented at the Center for the Arts Plaza “Street Dance” event the last weekend of July.

Those businesses that contribute prizes to the “East County Stimulus Package” will be listed on the Try Local First website and those that contribute prizes with a retail value of $100 or more will receive a link to their website, if requested. They will also be mentioned in as many promotional materials and presentations as possible.

The goal of the contest is to promote East County businesses as well as local events that contribute to the economic well being of our community.

The Home Show will be held June 11 and 12, 2010 at the Holiday Inn, 2725 NE Hogan Drive in Gresham. The event runs Friday, June 11 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday, June 11 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Admission is $3.00 per adult or $2.00 with a donation to My Father’s House Community Shelter , and $2.00 per child age 6-12 or $1.00 with a donation to My Father’s House. Children 6 and under are free.

For more information, please contact i4 Marketing at 971.235.3120.

The Gresham Barlow Education Foundation presents the 2010 Bagels & Books event with Oregon author Phillip Margolin, New York Times best selling author of Gone, But Not Forgotten.

Phillip’s other books include:
Supreme Justice
Fugitive
Executive Privilege
Proof Positive
Lost Lake
Sleeping Beauty
Ties That Bind
The Associate
Wild Justice
The Undertaker’s Widow
The Burning Man
After Dark
Gone, But Not Forgotten
The Last Innocent Man
Heartstone

The event will be held at Grace Community Church, 800 SE Hogan in Gresham.

Please RSVP to attend this event by Friday May 21st to the Gresham Barlow Education Foundation at 503.766.0008 or info@gbefkids.org.

Check out the event sponsors:

• Jazzy Bagels
• Books 4 Giving
• Shammai Rockove, M.D.
• Honke Heating
• Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
• Historic Downtown Gresham Kiwanis Club

The Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Try Local First will be hosting an Advanced Facebook class on Monday, May 17th.

The class will be held from 5:30-7:30 pm at Portland Adventist Elementary.

Class topics include:

• Internet marketing
• Strengthening your brand
• Increasing buzz about your business
• Driving traffic to your business
• Improving your social media presence

The class costs $25 for individuals who preregister or $30 at the door. Space is limited, so sign up today.

RSVP to Julie at the Gresham Chamebr at 503.665.1131 or julieh at greshamchamber dot org

Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Just show your key tag to the business sponsors listed on the web-site start saving money today and support your local businesses at the same time.

Shopping Spree Winner Gloria Smith with Try Local First's Bess Willis

Gloria Smith noticed the brightly green wrapped boxes in local stores last Christmas (2008) and she filled out a form and entered to win the local $1,000 Shopping Spree.

Then later on in the year she entered to win a Discover East County Package and when she heard the winners announced at the 4th of July Blue Lake Park Fireworks Event she did not hear her name but was impressed to see that yes someone did win and these Try Local First promotions were for real. So when she received the e-mail announcing the 2009 Shopping Spree Event she took the time to enter once again.

Life gets busy and Gloria was over halfway across the United States caring for a sister that was having eye surgery when she visited a local library to check her e-mail – yes, Gloria, there is a Santa Claus as what to her wondering eyes did appear an e-mail from Try Local First stating that she was the winner of the 2009 $1,000 Shopping Spree. Persistence does pay and a little good karma doesn’t hurt either.

Speaking of good karma and paying it forward, when asked what she intended to do with her Holiday Spree the first words out of her mouth were that she was going to her local Church and get some Angels off the tree – you see each Angel has a child’s name who needs a little something this Christmas and Gloria was happy to spend a portion of her $1,000 helping other less fortunate have a little brighter Christmas.

And, of course she intends to spend the entire $1,000 locally because she understands that will enable someone else to spend local and the circle of local economic health stays well and those locally in need are given assistance. Try Local First is truly a happy ending story that had no ending if we all make that extra effort to spend our resources in East County!